The best young player I have seen in a very very long time

[Figaro]

Iniesta

 

The lad is absolutely brilliant.

 

Never wastes a ball. Never. His off-the-ball movement is tremendous.

 

I've been saying this for a year and a half - he is going to be huge.

[deacon]

I agree. He helped to change the game against Arsenal in the final, and while everyone was banging on about Ronaldinho in their game against Milan in the San Siro, I thought Iniesta was the best player on the pitch by a mile.

 

How highly is he rated by Rijkaard? Also, will his chances of starting be hampered by Deco and Xavi?

 

Another thing, surely there is no squad near Spain's in terms of central midfielders? A quartet of Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi and Xabi. How England could desperately do with one of those.

[Figaro]

Deco will be away from Barca if not this summer then next.

 

Iniesta has been groomed to take over from Xavi. He's also been groomed to play at any position in midfield and has also played as an out and out striker in a couple of Barca B games I saw last season.

 

Spain's problem is that Luis Aragones will not play Xavi, Xabi Cesc and Iniesta - he'll go Xavi-Xabi or Xavi-Cesc and he will have Abelda in there covering.

 

I'd love him to start with a midfield of Iniesta, Xavi Xabi Joaquin or

 

Reyes Xavi Xabi Iniesta but he won't

 

Iniesta should be in the team from the start with Xabi

[galés rojo]

Deco will be away from Barca if not this summer then next.

 

Iniesta has been groomed to take over from Xavi. He's also been groomed to play at any position in midfield and has also played as an out and out striker in a couple of Barca B games I saw last season.

 

 

 

Really? Don't think he has enough goals in him to play such an advanced role. He looks a great prospect but his one weakness is that he just never looks like scoring, this seems to be the case with a lot of Spanish midfielders. They can pass and pass the ball for fun keeping possesion for hours but they do lack players who can drive forward fom the midfield with pace and aggresion.

 

Its a shame for Spain that Baraja had such a bad season and isn't going to tha world cup because he is the closet Spain have to a player fitting this role.

 

I don't think Xavi has played enough football since his injury to justify a starting place ahead of some of the other midfielders.

Edited June 8, 2006 by galés rojo

[Guest TanMan]

I agree. He helped to change the game against Arsenal in the final, and while everyone was banging on about Ronaldinho in their game against Milan in the San Siro, I thought Iniesta was the best player on the pitch by a mile.

 

How highly is he rated by Rijkaard? Also, will his chances of starting be hampered by Deco and Xavi?

 

Another thing, surely there is no squad near Spain's in terms of central midfielders? A quartet of Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi and Xabi. How England could desperately do with one of those.

 

Lampard, Gerrard, Beckham and Cole pisses on that quartet. IMHO.

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Iniesta

 

The lad is absolutely brilliant.

 

Never wastes a ball. Never. His off-the-ball movement is tremendous.

 

I've been saying this for a year and a half - he is going to be huge.

 

I agree FWIW - seeing him for the first time was like when Gerrard played he first few games - you could just tell that all things been equal he would be huge. This lad is the same.

 

Lampard, Gerrard, Beckham and Cole pisses on that quartet. IMHO.

 

No sure on that - playing Lampard and Gerrard means that one of them (ie Gerrard) doen't play him natural game.

 

Beckham, Carrick (or Carra), Gerrard, and Cole would provide a more balanced midfield

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Iniesta is growing closer to being my favourite player everytime I see him.

 

He is like Garcia and Xabi rolled into one. Fantastic movement coupled with amazing vision and passing, can play anywhere from the holding role to advanced midfielder.

 

He is gonna be the best midfielder in the world someday.

[Dule]

So is Barco trying to groom him into an all action midfielder like our own Stevie G? Playable in any position?

 

I like the look of the kid, but he may need another season to get a starting role week in week out at Barca.

 

Maybe if they buy a big name next year he wont be happy, and maybe we could pinch him?

[Maldini]

He was exceptional at youth level, he kind of struggled for a couple of years at senior level, but he's really finding his feet now. I always think it takes creative playmaker types longer to develop because so much of their game is aput clever movement and finding space.

[_00_deathscar]

He was exceptional at youth level, he kind of struggled for a couple of years at senior level, but he's really finding his feet now. I always think it takes creative playmaker types longer to develop because so much of their game is aput clever movement and finding space.

 

Are you hinting we should keep Le Tallec?

[Maldini]

I actually thought of him when I was making the post, but no, I think he's actually regressed in the last couple of years.

[Figaro]

Iniesta has only had a season and a half with the first team on a continuous basis, before that he was brought in and out of the squad and usually warmed the bench for cup games. Rijkaard has been trying to use him sparingly. That will change next season.

 

Maldini is right about him being a sensation at youth level. He never failed to impress as soon as he arrived.

Edited June 8, 2006 by Figaro

[chrisbonnie]

yeah, the chap is quality, i think he`s even a slight bit better than Xavi, as he has a bit more pace, mind you, he probably doesnt have the footballing brain, YET, of Xavi

 

i personally wouldnt play Fabregas over him in the world cup, id go for Iniesta, Xabi, Xavi and joaquin, without a doubt, one of the best midfields in the world there

 

i wish the spanish would all just get along, they should always be in the last 4, i bought a jersey for the world cup,so maybe ill bring them luck

 

yeah, thats it, me, a solitary paddy will bring spain the luck they need

[mick]

Iniesta has only had a season and a half with the first team on a continuous basis, before that he was brought in and out of the squad and usually warmed the bench for cup games. Rijkaard has been trying to use him sparingly. That will change next season.

 

Maldini is right about him being a sensation at youth level. He never failed to impress as soon as he arrived.

 

Why d you think Deco is on the way out?

 

I think he is a class player.

[Maldini]

Barca's youth system is unreal isn't it. I suppose it helps that they haven't got the farcical academy system we have here.

 

Iniesta has only had a season and a half with the first team on a continuous basis, before that he was brought in and out of the squad and usually warmed the bench for cup games. Rijkaard has been trying to use him sparingly. That will change next season.

 

Maldini is right about him being a sensation at youth level. He never failed to impress as soon as he arrived.

Yuo could always tell he was a good player, he was never in danger of doing a FSP/ALT, but he sometime struggled to impse himself on games when he first broke through. I suppose it didn't help that they kept playing him on the right wing.

[growler]

Fig, What are they doing in their youth system to stop the a*** and scum nicking their youngsters?

 

scary that Cesc, Pique to name two were stolen and yet still they produce stars. Its funny that people say we shouldn't expect a team full of scousers, but how do they do it at Barca?

[Guest Jack Bauer]

Cesc and Pique aren't from Barca are they? I don't think you can compare Catalonia to Merseyside, especially since there are more than a few good clubs in the North West.

[Maldini]

Cesc and Pique both played for Barca and were born in Catalonia yeah.

 

Barca and Real are allowed sign kids from all over Spain. Up until the age of 16 we can only sign players from within a 60 minute travel radius, it goes up to 90 after 16.

 

Barca bring kids in at 12 and put them up in their academy, it's kid of like a football boarding school. Pepe Reina moved from the city of Madrid to Barcelona at 13 on his own.

 

They've another generation of geniuses coming through now too.

[Figaro]

The trick over here now is to give the really good prospects their first professional contract asap. Both Barca and Sevilla the two club with the best youth systems in Spain have done it with certain players coming through - CF - Riego and Capel being two examples that way it's a lot more expensive to poach them

[jimmylibel]

Cesc and Pique both played for Barca and were born in Catalonia yeah.

 

Barca and Real are allowed sign kids from all over Spain. Up until the age of 16 we can only sign players from within a 60 minute travel radius, it goes up to 90 after 16.

 

Barca bring kids in at 12 and put them up in their academy, it's kid of like a football boarding school. Pepe Reina moved from the city of Madrid to Barcelona at 13 on his own.

 

They've another generation of geniuses coming through now too.

 

Dos Los Santos is the next wonderkid isn't he?

[Maldini]

Dos Los Santos is the next wonderkid isn't he?

Yeah, his younger brother Jonathan is meant to be very handy too, and that Krkic lad we were supposed to be watching too.

[Figaro]

Yeah, his younger brother Jonathan is meant to be very handy too, and that Krkic lad we were supposed to be watching too.

 

ahah - there's a swedish ten year old who had a trial and was offered a place at Barca's school - his parents want to think about it over the summer - I've heard he's brilliant. Plays left midfield.